Car-coupling



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. A. DUNN.

OAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 500,098. Patented June 20, 1893.

Yfv F .{l M l ml Mw \\n\\. ll i m Z 0% u If g PETERS 00.. Puc'rmuwa. WAsmNm'om n. c.

0. A. DUNN.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

CAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 500,098. Patented June 20, 1893.

:HLi.

aims PEI'ERS co; mom-awn. WASMXNGTON a c UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDIUS A. DUNN, or DENVER, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,098, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed February 13, 1893. Serial No. 462,080. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDIUS A. DUNN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic car couplers'of the hook type.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler of the class named of superior strength, simple construction, thoroughly automatic, and adaptable to all classes of cars. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated and described in the following drawings and specification, in which Figure 1 represents a horizontal longitudinal section taken through the drawhoad on the line A of Fig. 2. In this view the coupling hook is shown in plan. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation in section on the line B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of the coupler attached to the end of a car, and represents the uncoupling device. Fig.

4. is a perspective view of the hook. Fig. 5 is a plan of two hooks coupled.

Siniilar letters and figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, (l designates the drawhead. It is provided with a central opening D. for the reception of draw bolt E. The rear end of the drawhead is enlarged to form the shoulders F. around which is filed the strap G. The arrangement of this end as illustrated, is similar to many at present in use. The front end of the drawhead is irregular in form and consists of a forward extending arm H. arranged horizontally to one side of the center line B. or axis of the drawhead. This arm H. is recessed to form a large chamber for the reception of the coupling hook I. which with the exceptions of its extreme point J is entirely incased by it. The coupling hook I. is arranged and pivoted vertically in the said guides, to the end of the car.

recess a little to one side of the center line B., the pin K. passing freely through the head and hook. The hook swings laterally in and out of the said recess. Its extreme outer end J. is curved sharply to form a lip or shoulder L. which is slightly rabbeted at M. The periphery of this curved end at N. is formed to best admit of its being bufied back in the recess by a like approachinghook and head. A recess 0. is formed in the back of the hook which is ribbed, (see Fig. 4) and in which is pivoted an uncoupling rod P. by means of the pin P. which passes through the ribs and end of said rod. This rod P. is surrounded by an expansive spring Q which is incased in a circular pocket R. formed in a hub S. which is formed on the outside of the arm II. This hub is arranged at an angle to allow the rod P. which passes centrally through it, to point back toward the car (see Fig. 3). A swivel or clevis T. on the end of the chain U. is pivoted to the outer end of said rod. The chain U. passes through rings V. or other suitable The Outer end of the chain is provided with a handle W. A slot X is formed centrally through the end of the arm H. and also through the extreme end of the coupling hook I. for the reception of a common link Y. A pin hole Z. is also made through the end of coupling arm for the reception of a coupling pin Z. The hole at the top of the hook is counterbored for the reception of the head of thepin to allow it to pass into the recess. In Fig. 1 a link is shown in dotted lines. In Fig. 2 a link and pin are shown in position. Theseare to be used only when coupling with foreign cars.

T designates a buffer which forms part of the drawhead. It curves outward and forward and operates both as a buffer and guide to a like approaching head. A projection 1 is formed centrally on the hub 2 of the coupling arm I. It is arranged to butt against the inner wall 3. of the drawhead when the center of the curved end J or pin hole Z. coincides with the center line of the drawhead.

The operation is as follows: The'expansive power of the spring Q. bearing in the bottom of the pocket It. and against the shoulder P of the uncoupling rod P. keeps the coupling hook constantly in correct position. The projection 1 on the hub 2. of the hook bearing against the wall of thedrawhead prevents the spring forcing the hook too far out, as shown in Fig. 1. As two drawheads come together in the act of coupling, the coupling hooks strike together first, and both are bufied back in the recesses on the springs only to recoil as they pass one another and look, as shown in Fig. 5, while the heads strike the butters T Each hook rests in the rabbet M. of the other, and in turning curves they swivel on each other. The springs keep the hooks impinged together, which insures close: contact between the heads. To uncouple the heads it is only necessary to draw back the uncouplingrodP. by means of the chain at the end of the car.

Having described my invention, .what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. The combination in a car coupler of a curved laterally swinging coupling hook pivoted and incased in alaterally arranged chamber in the coupling head; of an uncoupling rod journaled in said head and pivotally attached to the back of said coupling hook; of an expansive spiral spring surrounding said coupling rod and arranged to force and keep the said coupling hook in yielding position for coupling the said coupler hook arranged I to abut against a lug, projection or wall of .30

said coupling head, operating to prevent the said coupling hook being thrown too far forward by the spring, as specified.

2. The combination in a car coupler of a drawhead having a recessed projecting coupling head arranged horizontally to' one side of its axis, and an interiorly curved projection on the opposite side operating as a buffer, with a curved, laterally swinging coupling hook pivpted in said recess having'a rabbeted or lapping groove in its inner curved extremity, an uncoupling rod pivoted to the said hook and extending through a hub forming a part of said coupling head at an angle toward the car,-and a spiral spring surrounding said rod and incased in a recess in said hub, operating expansively against a shoulder on said rod and consequently against said coupling hook, and a chain 'pivotally connected to said rod, and arrangedconveniently at the end of the car adapted to draw the said hook back in the coupling head,and thus uncouple it, and a projection extending from the hub of said coupling hook, arranged to abut against the wall of the drawhead, all arranged as herein set forth and described.

3. In a drawhead the combination of a coupling rod journaled in a hollow inclined projection forming a part of said head, a spring surrounding said rod in the chamber of the said projection, a chain suitably connecting the end of said rod and end of car,with a curved',laterally swinging coupling hook pivoted in said drawhead and to the said coupling rod having a lapping groove in its inner curved extremity adapted. to match a similar curved projection on a similar hook, and a projection on its hubarranged to bear against a portion of said drawhead, as herein specified.

4. In a car coupler the combination of a recessed coupling head arranged horizontally to one side of its axis, provided with a central lateral slot at its extremity adapted to receive a common coupling link, and a forward curving projection extending from the head, operating as a buflier to an' opposite head, with a curved, laterally swinging coupling hook pivoted to said head provided at its outer extremity wit-ha lapping groove, and

a central lateralslot for the reception of a common coupling link, and a link pin hole passing centrally through its curved end, and an uncoupling rod surrounded by a spring pivotally attached to said hook and extending through a recessed projection of the said coupling head toward the car, and a chain freely and suitably connecting the said rod to the end of the car and a projection on the hub of said coupling hook abutting against a part oi said drawhead, all arranged as and for the purposes herein specified.

5. In a car coupler a curved, swinging hook havinga pivoting hub and a projection thereon arranged to abut against the drawhead, a sharply curved extremity forming a lip, a curved rabbet on its inner or coupling face to match a projecting it curve on a similar hook,

a lateral slot centrally through its curved end for the reception of a coupling link, a link pin hole vertically through its curved end, a recess or projection formed in or on it for at- CLAUDIUS A1 DUNN.

Witnesses:

I WILLIAM SMITH,

THOMAS P. REYNOLDS. 

